Oftel welcomes all comers into BT's loop

NEWS Rival broadband companies will be allowed to visit BT's exchanges to install and maintain their equipment without a chaperone from BT, Oftel has ruled. Earlier this year, unbundled local loop operators such as Easynet and Bulldog Communications had originally been offered space for their DSL equipment in special areas of BT's exchanges, called co-location "hostels". They are now exploring the cheaper option of siting their equipment in other parts of the exchange, mixing their equipment in with BT's. BT had argued that this would constitute a security risk, as they argued that engineers from rival firms may damage their equipment as they made maintenance visits. However, Bulldog argued that they should be able to operate under the same conditions as BT engineers, and be able to make visits to exchanges without a BT representative present at all times. Oftel has ruled in Bulldog's favour, and the company is naturally delighted. Bulldog CEO Richard Greco said in a statement: "We are particularly pleased that Oftel has ruled in a manner consistent with their espoused principle that unbundled local loop operators should have parity with BT."